Sleeve

ABSTRACT

Sleeve for muscle or joint regions of the human body having an inner side ( 2   a ) in contact with the body and an outer side ( 2   b ) facing away from it, wherein it is proposed according to the invention that a sequence of elastic strip bodies ( 1 ) is provided at least in sections of the sleeve, which are held spaced apart from one another parallel to one another in an air-permeable shell ( 2 ), which forms respectively one connecting web ( 3 ) running centrally in the longitudinal direction of the strip bodies ( 1 ) between adjacently located strip bodies ( 1 ). The sleeve is primarily intended for use during sleep and prevents cooling of the covered areas by reliably avoiding the formation of perspiration. After putting in place, the sleeve according to the invention results in a massage and therefore improved circulation in the tissue and an enhanced metabolism. It therefore has a pain-relieving, relaxing, decongesting and swelling-reducing effect.

The invention relates to a sleeve for muscle and joint regions of the human body having an inner side which is in contact with the human body during use and an outer side facing away from this according to the preamble of claim 1.

In a plurality of complaints which are associated with the musculoskeletal system of the human body, a massage can provide relief or can also be used to assist therapy. Massages bring about improved circulation in the tissue and an enhanced metabolism. Furthermore, a positive influence on the lymph system can be achieved through massage, and the removal of harmful metabolism products can be accelerated.

In addition to conventional manual massage, massage devices have been proposed in the prior art which require a power supply or the supply of a fluid. In addition to the complex operation in some cases and the comparatively high purchase costs, the regular use of known massage devices is primarily a practical problem. The known possibilities also have the disadvantage that they can scarcely be used during sleep.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an inexpensive massage device for muscle or joint regions of the human body which can also be used during sleep and thereby enables a regular application.

These objects are achieved by the features of claim 1. Claim 1 relates to a sleeve for muscle or joint regions of the human body having an inner side in contact with the body and an outer side facing away from it, wherein an air-permeable shell is provided, wherein it is proposed according to the invention that a sequence of elastic strip bodies is provided at least in sections of the sleeve, which are held spaced apart from one another parallel to one another in the air-permeable shell, wherein the air-permeable shell forms respectively one connecting web running centrally in the longitudinal direction of the strip bodies between adjacently located strip bodies. The sleeve can be pulled over the desired regions or placed thereon, and possibly fixed with the aid of a hook and loop fastener or the like. According to the invention, an elastic component is provided here, which is designed with the aid of spaced-apart strip bodies in the form of a rib-shaped structure. This design has many advantages. On the one hand, in the course of changes in position during sleep the desired massage effect is achieved due to friction on the skin, which increases the local skin temperature and improves the circulation, the metabolism and the oxygen supply in the affected regions. Together with the elasticity of the individual strip bodies however, pressure points are reliably avoided. The elastic strip bodies according to the invention are additionally separated from one another by connecting webs which each run centrally in the longitudinal direction of the strip elements. This design has the effect that when wearing the sleeve, air ventilation channels for the skin surface form between adjacent strip bodies and below the connecting webs, which prevent perspiration. Air exchange is assisted by the rib-shaped arrangement of the elastic strip bodies since they undergo a reduction in volume under pressure and moisture-laden air is released via the connecting webs. Upon relief of pressure, possibly when the wearer adopts a corresponding position during sleep, the strip bodies can again adopt their original position, whereupon fresh air is sucked into the ventilation channels. The elastic strip bodies thus bring about a pump-like effect which alternately presses moisture-laden air from the ventilation channels of the sleeve and sucks in fresh air.

Preferably the inner side of the shell is designed in a mesh-like manner or is provided with a mesh-like surface structure. In this way, the massage effect and the production of friction heat are improved. The manufacture of the sleeve according to the invention can be very much facilitated by forming the connecting web by a seam which connects the inner side and the outer side of the air-permeable shell.

The invention is explained in detail hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments with the aid of the appended figures. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a section of an embodiment of a sleeve according to the invention in perspective view and

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show two embodiments for a possible blank of the sleeve according to the invention.

Reference is firstly made to FIG. 1. The sleeve is formed at least in sections from a sequence of elastic strip bodies 1 which are held at a distance from one another parallel to one another in an air-permeable shell 2. The strip bodies 1 can possibly be made from a thermally insulating material in order to increase the heating effect of the sleeve and to store heat. One possible material for the strip body 1 is possibly foam. The shell 2 can possibly comprise a woven fabric or knitted fabric which however can be designed differently to fabricate the inner side 2 a and the outer side 2 b. The inner side 2 a of the sleeve is that side which comes in contact with the body in the usage position of the sleeve. The outer side 2 b is the side of the sleeve facing away from the inner side 2 a which is therefore facing away from the body and visible in the usage position of the sleeve. In FIG. 1 the shell 2 is shown partially raised to expose the inner strip body 1. The shell 2 forms respectively one connecting web 3 running centrally in the longitudinal direction of the strip elements. The inner side 2 a of the shell 2 can possibly be designed to be mesh-like or be provided with a mesh-like surface structure.

The connecting web 3 is possibly formed by a seam connecting the inner side 2 a and the outer side 2 b of the air-permeable shell 2.

FIG. 2 shows two embodiments of possible blanks of the sleeve in a planar view. FIG. 2 a shows possibly one blank for a sleeve which in the usage position is placed around the upper body to massage the back during the night and is closed on the front side of the body in the chest region possibly by means of hook and loop closures to form a sleeve. FIG. 2 b shows a blank for a sleeve for the neck region with an extension for the cervical vertebra region, which is placed around the neck and is closed in the front neck region possibly by means of hook and loop closures. The blanks of FIGS. 2 a and 2 b have a structure according to the invention as has been described by reference to FIG. 1 and possibly have connecting tapes with a hook and loop closure (not shown in FIG. 2) by which means the closure edges 4 can be joined after putting in place in order to close the sleeve and fix it on the respective body region. It is immediately apparent that the blank is suitably selected according to the body region since a sleeve for placement in the knee region possibly requires a different shape from a sleeve for placement in the shoulder region.

After placement, the sleeve according to the invention results in improved circulation in the tissue and an enhanced metabolism and has a positive influence on the lymph system. This accelerates the removal of harmful metabolism products. By retaining the radiated body heat, a warm and dry microclimate with dry-mild heating can be produced without exceeding the core temperature of 37° C. and moisture retention can be prevented by means of the escape paths along the connecting webs. Air and moist mixtures are sucked in via the fresh air from the atmosphere. In this way, a permanent wetness is avoided and the skin temperature below the sleeve is increased by 1° to 4° C.

As a result of the structure according to the invention, the sleeve according to the invention can be worn in particular during the night but also throughout the day. It has a pain-relieving, relaxing, decongesting and swelling-reducing effect. It is however also suitable for therapeutic support in the post-operative stage for consequences of injury, possibly in cases of sprains, swellings or stasis. 

1-3. (canceled)
 4. Sleeve for muscle or joint regions of the human body having an inner side in contact with the body during use and an outer side facing away from it, wherein an air-permeable shell is provided, wherein a sequence of elastic strip bodies is provided at least in sections of the sleeve, which are held spaced apart from one another parallel to one another in the air-permeable shell, wherein the air-permeable shell forms respectively one connecting web running centrally in the longitudinal direction of the strip bodies between adjacently located strip bodies, and the elastic strip bodies undergo a reduction in volume under pressure and acquire their original shape again when the pressure is removed.
 5. The sleeve according to claim 4, wherein the inner side of the shell is designed in a mesh-like manner or is provided with a mesh-like surface structure.
 6. The sleeve according to claim 4, wherein the connecting web is formed by a seam which connects the inner side and the outer side of the air-permeable shell. 